Continuous engine-indicator



No. 6I5,I6I. Patented Nov. 29. |898. T. GRAY. CUNTINUOUS ENGINEINDICATOR.

(Applicatidn med my 19, 1897.)

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(No Model.)

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Patented Nov.` 29, |898.

No. s|5,|s|.

v T. GRAY.

CONTINUOUS ENGINE INDQATOR. (Applicstiodled July 19, 1897.) ,(|IoIu`dal.) .2 Shaets-$haet 2.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS GRAY, OF TERRE HAUTE, INDIANA.

CONTINUOUS ENGINE-INDICATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 615,161, dated November29, 1898.

Application iiled Inly 19, 1897. Serial No. 645,160. (No model.)

To all whom i may concern.-

f Be it known that I, THOMAS GRAY, a citizen Great Britain, residing atTerre Haute, in ie county of Vigo and State of Indiana, have vented anew and useful Continuous Enie-Indicator, of which the following is aecification.

My invention relates to an improvement in =dicators for steam or otherengines.

The indicators now generally in use consist a small cylinder the lowerend of which .nay be attached to a pipe leading into one end ,r theother of the engine-cylinder. Mounted in this small cylinder is a pistoncarrying a listen-rod, to the upper end of which is seuired mechanismfor operating a recording` yencil or pen. Mounted near this pencil is arum upon which may be secured a card, and his drum is connected by anyone of several nechanisms with the piston-rod of the engine o be tested,the arrangement being such that he drum is reciprocated about its axisby the movement of the engine piston-rod, a complete reciprocation ofthe drum heilig caused by each complete reciprocation of the engine With this arrangement it is prac- ,ically impossible to obtain more thanone diagram upon each card, for the reason that, owing to the fact thatthe card is carried through the same space for each complete movement ofthe engine-piston, each diagram would be drawn upon the same space, sothat the lines of the several diagrams would overlap and become confusedone with the other.

The object of my invention is to produce an indicator in which acontinuous series of diagrams may be produced upon a recordstrip, eachdiagram being separate and distinct from the others.

The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view from one side of the indicator. Fig. 2 isa similar view from the other side. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectionaldetail.

In the drawings, 4 indicates an indicatorcylinder of the usualconstruction and provided with the usual piston and pressurespring.Rotatably mounted upon the upper end of cylinder 4 in the usual manneris a plate 5, carrying a pair of standards 6 and 7. Pivoted to the upperend of standard 6 is the pencil-arm 8, carrying at its outer end therecording-pencil 9. The pencil-arm is also pivoted at a point betweenits ends to the upper end of the piston-rod 10. Pivoted to the upper endof standard 7 is one end of a link 11, the opposite end of which ispivoted to the pencil-arm. For the purpose of holding the pencil againstthe record-strip a spring 12 is provided. All of the above constructionis of the usual form.

Secured to the upper end of cylinder 1and extending at right anglesthereto is a baseplate 13, upon which is pivotally mounted aroll-carrying frame 14. Frame 14 consists of a lower plate 15, uponwhich is mounted a pair of uprights l0. Each of the uprights 1G isprovided near its upper end with a collar, upon which the upper plate 17of the frame 14 may rest, the upper ends of the uprights passing throughholes formed through said plate. For the purpose of detachably securingthe upper plate 17 in position a bar 18is pivotally mounted upon thesaid plate, and the ends of said bar are adapted to be swung intoperipheral notches 19, formed in the upper ends of the uprights 1G.Mounted between the plates 15 and 17 is an idler 20, the shaft 21 ofwhich extends down into the base-plate 13, the arrangement being suchthat pencil fl may be brought into engagement with the idler and therollcarrying frame may be swung about shaft 21 as a pivot. Mountedbetween plates 15 and 17 in suitable bearings formed therein are asupply-drum 22 and a storage drum 23, the storagedrum being mounted nearthe outerend of the frame, and the arrangement being such that a stripof paper 24, having been irstwound upon drum 22, may be passed aroundidler 2O and rolled upon the storage-drum. For the purpose of drawingthe record-strip 211 around the idler I mount in suitable bearings onthe base-plate a feed-roll 25, the surface of which may be covered withrubber, if desired. The storagedrum, together with that portion of therecord-strip wound thereon, is held normally in engagement with thefeed-roll by means of a spring 2G, one end of which is adjustablysecured to the frame and the other end secured to a post 27, carried bythe base-plate. The peripheral movement of the feed-roll must be alwaysin the same direction and must be eX- IOO ' direction.

actly proportional to the movement of the engine-piston in whicheverdirection the said piston is moved. For this purpose I mount in suitablebearings carried by the base-plate asegmental wheel 28, to the peripheryol which is secured one end of a cord or chain 29. The free end of chain29 maybe connected through the usual reducing mechanism with thepiston-rod of the engine to be tested. Secured to the upper and lowerends, respectively, of the feed-roll shaft are pulleys 30 and 3l.Secured to the upper side of the periphery of segment 28 is one end of acord or steel tape 32, which is passed around pulley-30, and secured tothe lower side of the periphery of the segment is a similar tape 33,which is passed around pulley 31 in the same The free ends of tapes 32and 33 are connected together by means of a cord 34, passed over a pairof pulleys 35, carried by an adjustable frame 36. Between each end ofthe cord 34 and the ends of the tapes 32 and 33 is mounted a spring 37.It is to be understood in this connection that a single spring 37,inserted at any point between the ends of the tapes, would produce thedesired result. Frame 3 (5 is supported by means of an arm 38, carriedby the base-plate, rod 39 of said frame projecting through the uprightportion of said arm. Formed in rod 39 is a series of notches 40, intoany one of which the free end of a pawl 41 may be forced by a spring 42.By this means the tension of springs 37 may be regulated. For thepurpose of returning segment 28 to its normal position a spring 43 issecured one end to an arm 44, carried by said segment, and the oppositeend to the upper end of arm 38.

As previously stated, the frame 13 is pivoted so as to swing around theshaft of idler 20, and the record-strip is normally gripped between thefeed-roll and the storage-drum by means of spring 26. In order to stopthe movement of the record-strip, the frame 13 may be swung outward awayfrom the feedroll and held away by means ofaspring-catch 45, a handle 46being formed upon the frame 13 for convenience in swinging it. A stop 47is provided to limit the outward movement of the frame.

In order to prevent the supply-drum from moving too freely, a smallfriction-brake 48 is mounted upon the outer end of a springarm 49 inposition to rest upon the upper `liange of said drum.

For the purpose of marking the atmospheric or base line upon therecord-strip and for indicating time thereon I provide a pencil 50,which is carried at the outer end of an arm 51, a vertical adjustmemt ofthe pencil being provided for by means of an adjustingscrew 52. Arm 51is yieldingly held in its normal position by means of a spring 53; butthe said arm may be drawn down by means of a small electromagnet 54,which may be placed in circuit with any ordinary breakcircuit clock 55.

The operation is as follows: In order to introduce the record-strip 24,bar 18 is swung out of notches 19 and plate 17 is lifted from standards1G. A supply-drum 22, having wound upon it a strip of the record-ribbon24, is then placed in position. A storagedrum 23 is placed in itsbearings, and the free end of the record-strip is passed around theidler 20 and secured to the storage-drum. Plate 17 is then returned toits position and secured therein. Catch 45 is then released and theroll-frame 14 is swung inward by spring 2G until the record-strip isheld between the storage-drum and the feed-roll. The instrument is thenready for use. Cylinder 4 is connected in the usual manner with thecylinder of the engine to be tested, and chain 29 is connected throughthe usual reducing mechanism with the piston rod thereof. The movementof the piston in one direction is communicated directly to the segment28, and said segment is returned as the piston returns by means ofspring 43. Both of the tapes 32 and 33 are normally held around theirrespective pulleys by the tension of the springs 37. Supposing now thatsegment 28 be turned in a counter clockwise direction, the tape 32 willbe drawn about pulley 30 with a tension greater than the tension of thesprings 37, while the resultant tension in tape 33 will be less than thetension of the springs 37. As a consequence feed-roll 25 will be rotatedin a clockwise direction, thus drawing strip 24 from the supply-drum,around idler 20, beneath pencil 9, and winding it upon the storage-drum,the movement of the strip being the same as the peripheral movement ofthe feed-roll and proportional to the movement of the en gine-piston andbeing at the same time entirely independent of the size of thestorage-drum and of the roll of paper thereon. As the piston returnschain 29 is kept tight and segment 28 is rotated in a clockwisedirection by means of spring 43. In this movement the tension of tapeabout pulley 31 is increased and the tension of tape 32 is decreased.The tapes being passed around their pulleys in the same direction, theresultis a clockwise rotation of the feed-drum, thus driving therecord-strip 24 in the same direction as before. In each movement of thesegment 28 one or the other of the tapes 32 acts as a strap-brake, sothat the movement of the feed-roll corresponds exactly with the movementof the engine-piston. As the record-strip 24 is being passed beneathpencil 9 the said pencil traces thereon a diagram representing theaction of the motive fluid in the usual manner, there being, however, aslight difference in the shape of the diagram drawn. In the commonindicators the diagram consists of a closed loop, owing to thereciprocal movement of the card, while in the present case the returnstroke of the engine is represented by a continuation of the curve ofthe forward stroke in the same direction. During the movement of strip24 pencil 50 lOl IIC

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t-races a substantially straight line thereon, the said line beinginterrupted by slight jogs caused by the movement of arm 5l as it isdrawn down by the magnet 54 and returned to its normal position byspring 53. It at any time the operator desires to stop the movement ofstrip 24,he grasps handle 46 and swings the frame 14 outward until catch45 engages a portion of plate 15, and thus holds the storage-drum awayfrom the feed-roll. The indicator-pencil 9 may be withdrawn fromengagement with the strip 24 in the usual manner by swinging plate 5about its axis.

It will be understood, of course, that any desired means fortransmitting the movement of the engine-piston to the feed-roll and forchanging the reciprocating.movement of the piston to one ot' rot-ationmaybe used-as, for instance, the well-known form of frictionpawl clutchmechanism.

With the above-described construction the record-strip is moved the samedistance for each movement of the engine-piston, so that all of thecards are of the same length. If desired, where quantitativemeasurements are not required the record-strip may be wound directlyupon the feed-roll, in which case the length of the cards wouldgradually increase. y I claim as my inventionl. In a continuousengine-indicator, the combination with the indicator-cylinder and therecording-pencil operated thereby, of a feed-roll adapted to engage arecord-strip, means, operated by the movement of the engine-piston, forrotating the feed-roll in one direction, the arrangement being such thatthe velocity of the strip will be in a constant ratio to that of theengine-piston, and means for separating the feed-roll and record-stripwhereby the record-strip may be stopped independently of the movement ofthe enginepiston and of the operation of the indicatorcylinder.

2. In a continuous engine-indicator, the combination with theindicator-cylinder and -the recording-pencil operated thereby, of afeed-roll adapted to engage a record-strip, a pair of pulleys carried bythe feed-roll, a pair of cords or tapes passed one around each pulley inthe same direction, the arrangement being such that the velocity of thestrip is in a constant ratio to that of the engine-piston, a springmounted between two of the ends of said tapes, and means, operated bythe engine, for alternately pulling upon the opposite ends of saidtapes.

3. In a continuous engine-indicator, the combination with theindicator-cylinder and the recording-pencil operated thereby, of afeed-roll adapted to engage a record-strip, a pair of pulleys carried bysaid feed-roll, a pair of tapes passed one around each of said pulleysin the same direction, a spring mounted between two of the ends of saidtapes, means for adjusting the tension of said spring, and means,operated by the engine,

for alternately pulling upon the opposite ends of said tapes.

4. In a continuous engine-indicator, the combination with theindicator-cylinder and the recording-pencil operated thereby, of anidler mounted beneath said recording-pencil, a roll-carrying framepivotally mounted upon the aXis of said idler, a supply-drum carrying arecord-strip, and a storage-drum mounted in said frame, the saidrecord-strip being passed over the idler, and secured to thestorage-drum, a feed-roll adapted to engage the record-strip and draw itaround the idler, and means, operated by the engine, for rotating saidfeed-roll.

5. In a continuous engine-indicator, the combination with theindicator-cylinder and the recording-pencil operated thereby, of anidler mounted beneath the recording-pencil, a roll-carryin g framepivotally mounted upon the axis of the idler, a supply-drum, carrying arecord-strip, and a storage-drum mountedfin said t rame, the saidrecord-strip being passed around the idler, and secured to thestoragedrum, a feed-roll adapted to engage the record-strip, a springfor normally holding the storage-drum in engagement with the feedroll,and means operated by the engine for rotating the feed-roll.

6. In a continuous engine-indicator, the combination with theindicator-cylinder and the recording pencil operated thereby, of meansoperated by the engine for feedingarecord-strip in one direction beneaththe recording-pencil, a second recording-pencil adapted to engage therecord-strip, and means forintermittently moving said second pencil soas to indicate time upon the record-strip.

7. In a continuous engine -indicator, the combination with theindicatorcylinder and the recording-pencil operated thereby, of an idlermounted beneath the recording-pencil, a` roll-carrying frame pivotall ymounted upon the axis of the idler, a supply-drum, carrying arecord-strip, and a storage-drum mounted in said frame, the saidrecord-strip being passed around the idler, and secured to thestorage-drum, a feed-roll adapted to engage the record-strip, means,operated by the engine, for rotating the feed-roll, a secondrecording-pencil adapted to engage the recordstrip as it passes over theidler, and means by which the second pencil may be intermittently movedso as to indicate time upon the recordstrip.

8. In a mechanical movement for changing reciprocating to continuousrotary movement, a drum, a pair of tapes passed around said drum in thesame direction, a cord passed around a pulley, or other suitablesupport, and connecting two of the ends of said tapes, a spring forminga part of said cord, and intermediate connecting mechanism between theopposite ends of said tapes and the reciprocating part whereby the saidtapes are alternately pulled by said reciprocating part.

IIO

9. In a mechanical movement for changing reciprocating to continuousrotary movement, a drum, a pair of tapes passed around said drum in thesame direction, a cord passed around a pulley, or other suitablesupport, and connecting two of the ends of said tapes, a spring forminga part of said cords, means for adjusting the tension of said spring,and intermediate connecting mechanism between the opposite ends of saidtapes and the reciprocating part whereby the said tapes are alternatelypulled by said reciprocating part.

IO. In a continuous engine-indicator, the combination with theindicator-cylinder and the recording-pencil operated thereby, of anidler mounted beneath said recording-pencil, a roll-carryin g framepivotally mounted upon the axis of said idler, a supply-drum and astorage-drum mounted in said frame, a feedroll against which thestorage-drum may be swung, and means, operated by the engine, forrotating the feed-roll whereby a recordstrip wound upon the supply andstorage drums may be caused to pass around the idler with a velocity ina constant ratio to that of the engine-piston.

l1. In a continuous engine-indicator, the combination with theindicator-cylinder and the recording-pencil operated thereby, ot` anidler mounted beneath said recording-pencil, a roll-carrying framepivotally mounted upon the axis of said idler, a supply-drum and a sto1age-drum mounted in said frame, a feedroll against which thestorage-drum may be swung, means, operated by the engine, for rotatingthe feed-roll whereby a record-strip wound upon the supply and storagedrums may be caused to pass around the idler with a velocity in aconstant ratio to that ofthe engine-piston, and a spring for normallyholding said storage-d rum in engagement with the feed-roll.

l2. In a continuous engine-indicator, the combination With theindicator-cylinder and the recording pencil operated thereby, of meansoperated by the enginefor feeding a record-strip in one directionbeneath the recording-pencil, a second recording-pencil,and means forintermittently moving` said second pencil so as to indicate time uponthe recordstrip.

133. In a continuous engine-indicator, the combination with theindicator-cylinder and the recording pencil operated thereby, ol' meansoperated by the engine for feeding a record-strip in one directionbeneath the recording-pencil with a velocity in a constant ratio to thatof the engine-piston, a second recording-pencil, and means forintermittently moving said second pencil so as to indicate time upon therecord-stri p.

14. In a continuous engine-indicator, the combination with theindicator-cylinder and the recording-pencil operated thereby, of anidler mounted beneath the recording-pencil, a roll-carrying framepivotally mounted upon the axis of the idler, a supply-drum and astorage-drum mounted in said frame, a 'feedroll against which thestorage-drum maybe swung,means, operated by the engine, for rotating thefeed-roll, a second recordin gpencil, and means by which the secondpencil may be intermittently moved so as to indicate time upon arecord-strip carried by said supply and storage drums.

l5. In a continuous engine-indicator, the combination With theindicator-cylinder and the recording-pencil operated thereby, of anidler mounted beneath the recording-pencil, a roll-carrying framepivotally mounted upon the axis of the idler, a supply-drum and astorage-drum mounted in said frame, a feedroll against which thestorage-drum may be swung, means, operated by the engine, for rotatingthe feed-roll with a peripheral velocity in a constant ratio to thevelocity of the engine-piston, a second recording-pencil, and means bywhich the second pencil may be intermittently moved so as to indicatetime upon a record-strip carried by said supply and storage drums.

16. In a mechanical movement for changing reciprocating to continuousrotary movement, a drum, a pair of tapes passed around said drum in thesame direction, a spring connection between one of the ends of eachtape, and means for alternately pulling the opposite ends of said tapes.

THOMAS GRAY. lVitnesses:

D. P. Cox, EDWIN FAUs'r.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 615,161, grantedNovember 29, 1898, upon the application of Thomas Gray, of Terre Haute,Indiana, for an improvement in Continuous Engine-Indicators, an errorappears in the printed specification requiring correction, as follows:nIn lines 50-53, page 8, the Words the arrangement being such that theVelocity of the strip is in a constant ratio to that o' theenginepiston]7 should be stricken out; and that the said Letters Patentshould be read with this correction therein that the same may conform tothe record of the ease in the Patent Ooe.

Signed, oountersigned, and. sealed this 20th day of December, A. D.,1898.

[SEAL] WEBSTER DAVIS,

Assistant Secretary of the Interior. Counter-signed z C. H. DUELL,

Commissioner of Patents.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 615,161, grantedNovember 29, 1898,

upon the application of Thomas Gray, of Terre Haute, Indiana, for animprovement in Continuous Engine-Indicators, an error appears in theprinted speeiication requiring correction, as follows :.In lines 50-53,page 3, the Words the arrangement being such that the velocity of thestrip is in a constant ratio to that of the enginepiston, should bestricken out; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with thiscorrection therein that the same may conform to the record of the caseinthe Patent Oice.

Signed, conntersigned, and sealed this 20th day of December, A. D.,1898.

[SEAL] WEBSTER DAVIS,

Assistant Secretary of the Interior. Oountersigned Y C. H. DUELL,

Coinnw'ssionef/l of Patents.

